Ankeny Fanatic

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Dan Holm

‘It was a great weekend’: Jaguars win Little Hawk Invite title for 4th consecutive year

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There was no letdown for the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team. After rallying for a dramatic victory on Tuesday over defending Class 5A state champion Waukee Northwest, the second-ranked Jaguars traveled to Iowa City High on Saturday and won the Little Hawk Invitational for the fourth consecutive year. Centennial swept all four of its opponents in … [Read more...] about ‘It was a great weekend’: Jaguars win Little Hawk Invite title for 4th consecutive year

‘Everyone played so hard’: Hawkettes beat 4 top-10 teams, win Marj White Classic

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The Valley High School gym is turning into a second home for the Ankeny volleyball team. After sweeping their CIML Conference opener on Tuesday at Valley, the fourth-ranked Hawkettes returned to the Bill Coldiron Fieldhouse on Saturday and captured the championship of the Marj White Classic. They won all five of their matches in the round-robin event, … [Read more...] about ‘Everyone played so hard’: Hawkettes beat 4 top-10 teams, win Marj White Classic

Jaguars take advantage of short fields, romp to 55-14 victory over Ames

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It's usually important for a football team to win the battle of field position. It certainly was for Ankeny Centennial on Friday night. The Jaguars played almost the entire first half against visiting Ames in the Little Cyclones' territory, allowing them to build a 35-7 lead en route to a 55-14 victory. "Field position is a key, no question about … [Read more...] about Jaguars take advantage of short fields, romp to 55-14 victory over Ames

‘We have to get better’: Hawks fall to 0-2 after losing rematch of 5A title game

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The last time Ankeny and Southeast Polk collided on the football field, it was for the Class 5A state championship at the UNI-Dome. But inside Ram Stadium on Friday night, the three-time defending champion Rams and Hawks battled to see who could pick up their first win of the season. Two scoring drives in the second half … [Read more...] about ‘We have to get better’: Hawks fall to 0-2 after losing rematch of 5A title game

Like a ‘well-oiled machine’, Centennial girls capture team title at Schmaltz Invite

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There was no rust for the Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team to shake off. For the second time in three years, the fifth-ranked Jaguars captured the team title in the Kirk Schmaltz Invitational on Thursday. The meet was held at the Iowa State cross country course in Ames. Centennial posted a score of 54 points, matching its winning total from … [Read more...] about Like a ‘well-oiled machine’, Centennial girls capture team title at Schmaltz Invite

Zuber races to season-opening victory, while Jaguars earn runner-up finish

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Ankeny's Ethan Zuber made a strong statement in his first cross country race of the season. The Ankeny Centennial boys' team also made a huge impression. Zuber, the defending Class 4A state champion, raced to a victory in the Kirk Schmaltz Invitational on Thursday at the Iowa State cross country course in Ames. He posted a time of 14 minutes 56.5 … [Read more...] about Zuber races to season-opening victory, while Jaguars earn runner-up finish

‘We beat some talented teams’: Hawks place 3rd, edge Jaguars at Ankeny Invite

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While the Valley boys' golf team dominated the Ankeny Invitational on Wednesday at Otter Creek Golf Course, the real battle was for second place. Valley, the defending the Class 4A state champion, shot a 280 to easily win the team crown. The next six squads all broke 300 as well and were separated by just four strokes. Dowling Catholic and Ankeny each … [Read more...] about ‘We beat some talented teams’: Hawks place 3rd, edge Jaguars at Ankeny Invite

‘I think I’m still in disbelief’: Jaguars rally for improbable win over reigning champs

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) After initially leading two sets to none, the Ankeny Centennial volleyball players found themselves with their backs against the wall. The third-ranked Jaguars were just one set away from sweeping No. 9 Waukee Northwest in their home opener on Tuesday. But in a twist of fate, Centennial was a mere one point away from … [Read more...] about ‘I think I’m still in disbelief’: Jaguars rally for improbable win over reigning champs

‘The key was to stay on our toes’: Scheib, Hawkettes sweep past No. 11 Valley

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The Valley volleyball team entered the week on a four-match losing streak. A matchup against fifth-ranked Ankeny was not what the Tigers needed. The visiting Hawkettes rolled to a 25-16, 25-17, 25-19 victory in the CIML Conference opener for both teams on Tuesday. They improved their overall record to 8-1, while No. 11 Valley dropped to 2-6. "The … [Read more...] about ‘The key was to stay on our toes’: Scheib, Hawkettes sweep past No. 11 Valley

‘This one feels pretty dang good!’: Ankeny swimmers top 3-time defending champs

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This year's Ankeny girls' swimming team looks considerably different than it did last season. CIML Conference rival Waukee also went through some big roster changes in the offseason after the three-time defending state champion split its program into two squads with Waukee Northwest. Ankeny opened the season on Tuesday with a 98-88 victory over … [Read more...] about ‘This one feels pretty dang good!’: Ankeny swimmers top 3-time defending champs

Ankeny Christian wins Centennial Invite; Hawkettes, Jaguars tumble in semifinals

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All three of Ankeny's highly-ranked volleyball teams reached the semifinals of the Ankeny Centennial Invitational on Saturday. In the end, the smallest school emerged as the winner of the tournament. Top-ranked Ankeny Christian Academy, the two-time defending state champion in Class 1A, posted a 25-18, 21-25, 15-13 victory over Dowling Catholic in the … [Read more...] about Ankeny Christian wins Centennial Invite; Hawkettes, Jaguars tumble in semifinals

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Isaiah Bassett, Ankeny Centennial football

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Senior defensive end Isaiah Bassett helped the Ankeny Centennial football team to a 31-10 victory over Ankeny on Friday. The Jaguars intercepted two passes and allowed no points over the final 34 minutes. As a junior, Bassett made 38 tackles--including a team-high 7.5 sacks--while also averaging 37.0 yards as the Jaguars' punter. He was a first-team … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Isaiah Bassett, Ankeny Centennial football

Jackson, Jaguars dominate 2nd half, pull away for 31-10 victory over Ankeny

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) It was tough for Braeden Jackson to pick out his favorite touchdown run. The Ankeny Centennial senior running back scored three times in the second half and rushed for 236 yards to fuel the third-ranked Jaguars to a 31-10 victory over No. 2 Ankeny in the season opener for both teams on Friday. “It feels great,” said … [Read more...] about Jackson, Jaguars dominate 2nd half, pull away for 31-10 victory over Ankeny

‘We just have to make some adjustments’: Hawks look to bounce back from loss

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Earlier this week, Ankeny Centennial co-head football coach Ryan Pezzetti lauded the experience of his team's offensive line. "We have five or six (players) on the line who have played before and that's huge," Pezzetti said. "That's where the games are won or lost--in the trenches." He turned out to be prophetic. Centennial's Braeden Jackson rushed … [Read more...] about ‘We just have to make some adjustments’: Hawks look to bounce back from loss

Ankeny swimmers face rebuilding year after posting 10th straight top-10 finish

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It won't be easy for the Ankeny girls' swimming team to replace standouts Josie Parton and Anja Peck, who are now competing for Northern Iowa and Iowa State, respectively. The duo led the Hawkettes to a ninth-place finish in last year's state meet, accounting for 64 of the team's 105 points. It was the squad's 10th consecutive top-10 finish and its first … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers face rebuilding year after posting 10th straight top-10 finish

‘I knew it was an easy choice’: Ankeny’s Halverson to play baseball at Ellsworth

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It was an easy decision for Ankeny senior Zach Halverson. The righthanded pitcher has committed to play baseball for Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls. He announced his decision via social media on Thursday. "There was a good amount of schools that were in contact with me," said Halverson. "And honestly, it wasn't really that difficult of a … [Read more...] about ‘I knew it was an easy choice’: Ankeny’s Halverson to play baseball at Ellsworth

‘The course was unforgiving’: Hawks place 4th, Jaguars finish 6th at The Legacy

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The Legacy Golf Club in Norwalk proved to be a huge challenge for the 66 golfers competing in the Waukee Northwest Invitational on Thursday. Only one of the 11 teams in the field managed to break 300. Defending Class 4A state champion Valley shot a 294 to capture the team crown, finishing 11 strokes ahead of Waukee. "I think my team said it best today, … [Read more...] about ‘The course was unforgiving’: Hawks place 4th, Jaguars finish 6th at The Legacy

No. 3 Centennial looks to build off last year’s postseason run to UNI-Dome

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The Ankeny Centennial football team got hot at the right time last season, advancing to the Class 5A semifinals as a No. 13 seed. The Jaguars are hoping to reach the UNI-Dome again this year--perhaps as a higher seed. Centennial returns 10 all-district players from a team that finished with a 7-5 record under co-head coaches Jerry and Ryan … [Read more...] about No. 3 Centennial looks to build off last year’s postseason run to UNI-Dome